MEET JENNIFER

JENN'S PRIORITIES

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➢ STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONEnsure our schools remain among the most excellent in the state

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➢ INVEST IN TRANSPORTATIONPrioritize investment in rail infrastructure to get trains running faster – this will increase our grand list, raise property values, and give commuters more time with their families

➢ INCENTIVIZE JOB GROWTHRetain talent by offering loan forgiveness to Connecticut college graduates who stay and start a business or work in a growth sector

➢ PRACTICE GOOD GOVERNANCEGovern in an open and transparent manner that will build trust and inspire collaboration

BIOGRAPHY

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Jennifer Leeper is the product of a family deeply rooted in the tradition of public service. This sense of duty drove her to Wellesley College – where the official school motto is “Non Ministrari sed Ministrare”(“Not to be ministered unto, but to minister”). It is an ideal that suits Jenn perfectly – not just in her passionate desire to be useful to others, but in every action she has taken since graduating Wellesley.

She decided to get a master’s degree in Public Policy and to focus on education -- one of her life's greatest passions. She worked in a high school on the west side of Chicago, then as a school administrator in the most diverse elementary school in New York City. A few years later, Jenn took a job as a policy and data analyst at the Department of Education in Hartford.

She and her husband Nick, a small business owner, specifically chose to set their roots down in Fairfield because of the high-quality schools, greater community diversity, charming downtown, and proximity to the train. Soon after that, they bought their home, renovated it, and celebrated the birth of their first child.

On Jennifer’s last night of maternity leave with her second son, Donald Trump was elected president. The idea that she had just brought two young children into the world where so many people connected with Trump’s hateful and divisive rhetoric motivated her to do something more.

Determined to make an impact locally, Jenn jumped into the deep end of local government and ran for a town-wide seat on the Fairfield Board of Education in 2017 and won. Since serving on the Board of Education, Jenn has been a voice for student-centered policies, the restoration of civility and trust, committed to finding common ground and working from there. During her past two years on the BoE, she

Supported all of our teacher and administrator contracts to ensure we have the highest quality professionals working with our children

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Founded and chairs the Finance Committee and their efforts to find efficiencies within the district and the town and to think creatively about our educational investments

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Advocated for all high school students to learn personal finance as an essential element to lifelong independence and success

Championed the elementary level Math Academy so that the district has programming to meet the needs of all our learners

Fiercely defended the district’s recommendation to renovate and expand Mill Hill Elementary School to a 504 capacity so that no Southport family has to be redistricted out of their neighborhood school

Stood firm in the belief that spending $22 million to make a school smaller, is a financially irresponsible decision

Jennifer Leeper is intelligent, dedicated, hard-working and engaged and her highest hopes are to make a significant contribution to the good of our State and our Town.

Educated at Wellesley College (BA Political Science and Religion) and University of Chicago (Master's in Public Policy), married to Nick Leeper, Principal at RJA Asset Management, and together raising their 2 sons.